Standing valve puller



Nov. 25, 1941. G'. H. WILLIAMS STANDING VALVE-FULLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Filed July ll, 1938 l Q j lll/14434142 I:

if/15A( M//L MM5, BY

ATTORNEY.

Nv.25, 1941. G HMLUAMS 2,263,910

STANDING VALVE PUIVJLER Filedy July 1l, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

vIVENTOR. Q y/V/V A( WML/4M?,

AT RN Y.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 STANDING VALVE FULLER.

Glynn H. Williams, Huntington Park, Calif., as-

signor to Axelson Manufacturing Co., Losr Angeles, Calif., a corporationof'California Application July 11, 193s, serial No. 213,721

3 Claims.

My invention relates to oil well pumps and has particular reference to a valve puller which may be connected upon the lower end of a pump plunger to selectively engage or disengage a standing valve to be lowered by or elevated with the plunger.

In the oil well pump structures it is the common practice to employ a standing valve removably located at the lower end of the pump barrel and provide upon the pump plunger a connector or valve puller which may be engaged with the standing valve to permit withdrawal of the standing valve from its seat in the barrel whenever it is desired to remove the standing valve for inspection, repair or replacement, and to permit the insertion of the standing valve back into its seat in the pump barrel by coupling the same to the pump plunger prior to the insertion of the plunger into the pump and then disconnecting the plunger from the Valve after the valve has been properly seated in the pump.

Prior devices of this character haveusually included a pin or boX located uponthe lower end of the pump plunger to engage a cooperating box or pin on the standing valve by means of a bayonet connection, arranged in such manner that during the ordinary pumping operations the plunger will approach the standing valve but not engage it While when it is desired to remove the valve the pump plunger is lowered beyond the limit of its ordinary downward stroke to engage the bayonet joint and couple the plunger and valve together. It frequently occurs, however, that due to slippage between the connections of the pumping mechanism with the polished rod of the pump, the plunger is permitted to descend in normal pumping strokes to a point so low that the plunger coupling inadvertently engages the standing valve and the pin and bayonet slot connections used on these constructions engage and pound upon each other to the destruction of either the plunger and coupling or the standing valve. When such injury occurs to either the coupling or the standing valve stem or pins, it is necessary to remove the plunger and lish out the injured valve, a laborious and costly operation.

It is therefore an object of` my invention to provide a standing valve and puller and coupling therefor so constructed as to permit inadvertent striking of the standing valve and coupling without injury to either of them.

Another object of my invention is to provide a standing valve and puller of the character set forth wherein engagement of the couplingand standing valve is positive in its action and avoids inadvertent coupling of these members.

Another object of my invention is to provide a standing valve and puller therefor in which the coupling between the standing valve and the puller is accomplished by means of a plurality of dogs or slips as distinguished from .bayonet slot and pin connections heretofore employed. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a standing valve and puller of the character set forth wherein the membersfare provided with cooperating rugged abutments to interengage with each other to relieve the coupling or connecting parts thereof from injury. v

Other objects and advantages of Vmy invention will be apparent from a study of the following specications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein-f Fig. l is a vertical Ysectional view taken through a typical oil well pump illustrating the normal or seated position of the standing valve and illustrating the plunger coupling member in place upon the lower end of the plunger;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of myA plunger coupling Aorgpuller and my standing valve. and illustrating the position of these members as they approach each ,other for coupling engagement; .Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 Abut illustrating the relative positionoi theparts when thecoupling member has been moved down to abutting relation with the standing valve.

Fig. 4 is a Yview similar yto Figs. and 3 and-i1` lustrating the position of the parts when the dogsY or slips are in valve engaging position.

Fig. 5is a horizontal sectional View taken along line V-V of Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along inFig. 1 a typical reciprocating plunger type of n oil well pump, which includes a` pump barrel l equipped with the usual pump liners 2,Y withinA which reciprocates a pump plunger `3' carryingY near its lower end a working vvalve 4. Secured to the lower end of theplunger 3 is a valve puller indicated generally at 5. An extension 6 of the barrel coupled as by means of a bushing or collar 'l` tothe main portion of the barrel l has at its lower end a shoe ll into which is seated a standing valve indicated generally at 9.

The standing valve 9 includes a suitable ball seat I engageable by a ball valve II operating within a vertically extending cage I3, the upper end of which is of reduced diameter and has connected thereto an upwardly extending coupling pin I4 by which the valve puller 5 may be coupled to the standing valve when desired. The pin I4 is illustratedfy as having an enlargement I5 'therefon, the upper surface I6 of which provides an upwardly and inwardly beveled abutment to be engaged by the lower end I1 of the valve puller 5, as will be more fully described hereinafter: y

Above the abutment I 6 the stem I4 extends upwardly and is nished withv al slightly enlargedl head I8, in the upper surfaceofwliich, informedL a transverse recess I9, the junction between the head I8 and the stem I4 beingfformed:preferably; as a beveled or tapered shoulder while the upper end of the head I8 is preferably beveledor tapered; inwardly.` as f indicated: at 2.I

The valve, pullerf 5; is preferably.constructedfto includea body memben22; (see Eig.v 2)'i having a relativelyl large'. internal bore 23-` extending long i tudinally therethrough; the;upper;endfof the body.

22 beingqthreaded.;asindicatediah24mm-engagea f tubular memberxhaving aninterna-l'ghore; 3fsornerwhat larger in diameter than.e the diameter.- of; the head I8 of the'standingwalvexstemtolpermit theupperV end ofV thestanding'valvestem to be telescopically:received.:therein, the upper; end ofil the slip carriers2 Sibeing providedwithan. annulan recess 3.I which may: constitute the lower; seat; for a relatively stiff: compression spring: 32;.thef upper end \of which spring:` abuts: upon the shoulder 21! onx theI bushing: or adapter.: 25;` The slip; carrier A29x isl therefore normallyiurgeddownwardly withinithebody- 22. The slipI carrier., is-provded with a plurality of longitudinally extendingfraf.l dial slots 33 (see Fig. 8^), in; each: of which: is mounted a dog orslip 34. The'dogsfor. slips 34 are preferably -formed from-short lengthsof suite. able metal, the outer surface- 35A of` which` is:` roundedV as-indicated in Figi. tolformfwitmand form a continuation offthe=circumferenceoffthe slip carrier 29; whiletheupperiendof? the outer: surface thereofis tapered inwardly as indicated at 36. The inner face of each-ofv tlieslipssis. provided'with an inwardly-extendingportion 31 to provide a gripping shoulder.w 3Iivpresentedto` the interior of the-slipcarrier` 29% Thefslips34 byproviding each ofv the slips a short` Vwire pin 39 adaptedA tov be' receivedf in= an annularz groovel 40 -formed upon andextendingaboutithe slip-carrier 29; thus permitting the -ready inser-A tion' of-thef'slips into thevcarrier-29 and-the-readyl removal of. individual slipstherefromwithout dis= turbing the remaining, slips.

unobstructed entrance opening into the valve CIV are pivotally mounted upon the-slip carrier 29:":asl 60 puller 5 to permit the upper end of the standing valve stem to be received within the puller 5. Thus the dogs 34 should normally be restrained in their retracted position, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by pro- Viding a limiting device for restraining the downward movement of the slip carrier 29, this restraining mechanism beingvgillustrated' as including a substantially Y-shapecl slot4il on^ diametrically opposite sides of the body 22 into which project opposite ends of a pin 42. As is illustrated. particularly in Fig. 5, the pin 42 comprises ashortlength of squared stock material projectingr` through ai squared opening 43 in one side walllof. the slip carrier 29, the extreme outer end of the pin whichY projects outwardly of the opening' 43heing: rounded as indicated at 44 to present a round surface to the slot 4I while the opposite end of the pin 42 is rounded as indicated at 45. t0; passthrughiar round hole 46 f on. theropposite; side. of the;` slip; carrier; 29 and= to presenta rounded surface to the-opposedslot 4I in thebody.

The; Yfslots 4I havega'stemportion 41 and one.V branch'I 48,. preferably.. in. verticalalignment with the stem portion 41, while the otherl branch 49. of.. the;` Y. extends,` at: a' considerable.- angle to the stemiportiom41-to:act.as acamewhen the .pin 42 is'in: thelb1anoh 49zand: thezplunger is lowered into .engagement ,with l thervalve, l to cause a slight. left handed'` rotation; ofg the bodyA 22,r (and of` icourse5thepplunge1t-3); to, alignthepin 42: with the''verticallcira-nchtl: or 4& of, thel Y: slots.

It will. be.. noted; that the.l lower' extremity. of` the branche,A is. at. a. considerablyl higher level of; thezbranclrv 49.1so. that-.whom the; pin is seatedI in the.- branch 48: theT slipy carrierf 29i will be held in anelevated.position in-.thebody 22. Them--- teriorr surface o ithbody;22fisprovided with a downwardly andzontwardlyftapering shoulder 50 extending to anenlargement 5I- of thebore 23, at :thelowerrend of.. which;y enlargement is, formed ai downwardlyV and. inwardly extending. shoul:` der: 53..

Theilengthoffthe. recess 5I isfslightly lessthan. the;.1ength;,oi: themntaperedgouter surface-of the. slips 34:.so;tha:it` whenzthezslipcarrier 2$Iis-in=its1 normali positions, the; outer surface; of the. slips 34a will bridge;` the. recess 5I l and` engage'. the in.- terior. of.: the; borei 23. on; plwsitef sides of4 the.` recess-. rlhusfv pivota'lfy movement:- of; the slips; 3.4i when .im thisg positioir isfpositively; prevented i and.`

thefengaging end 31of.fthe.slips is held in out.-v

waredly.I spaced relation? to: the; head I8/ on the.` standing` valve( stern'.A lryf.` employ-ingr this construction, it.: will; be:` apparentiV thatv inadvertent; inward :extension of ,thefslipslhisfpositively pre-v vented ',so;.thatT thence is: no; danger: of the f ends 1of; the vslipsf strilringzupon the uppenendof. thefhead I Bcand-being brokenzy byi'such. contacta At: this; p oint itA v should be. noted. that the in- Y terionsurface of the-:body A22 below.g the,shou1der. 53.-I extends vertically through.. av. short. distance. 54 andthentapersinwardly and downwardly as. indicated :atl 55,- .providing on. thelower. end lof the" body, 23athickene.dor enlarged. portion, providing a rugged abutmentvsurface I1" which may4 strike. upon.y the. abutment surface I6` without damage -to,eithenthestandingvalve or the puller. rIhus.. in. the. normali stroke, off. the' plungerV the lower end of the puller mayapproach very 'closely' tothe standingvalve. without fear. of injury to` either.. the. pullerj or. the, valvev since-,l should" they strike.. each, other, theforce ofjthe blow wi1l`be taken up by the abutments I6 and' I1` and'will not be appreciably transmitted to any of the other parts of the device. Of course, the normal downward limit of the plunger stroke should be such as not to bring the pin 42`into contact with the upper surface of the standing valve stem I4 so as to avoid undue wear on the pin 42. However, should the stroke be inadvertently lengthened and should the pin .42 strike the upper surface of the stem I4, the only eifect thereof will be to elevate the slip carrier 29 in the body 22; that is, the pin 42 will be slid upwardly into the stem 41 of the slot 4I against the force of the spring 32 and immediately upon the beginning of the upward stroke the pin will again seat in the branch 48 of the slot 4I to again limit the downward movement of the slip carrier 29 to its normal position and prevent release of the dogs 34 from their retracted position and preventing the inadvertent coupling of the puller to the standing valve.

Now, however, when it is desired to couple the puller with the standing valve, the plunger may be deliberately lowered until the abutments I6 and I 'I engage each other, and the sucker rod string rotated a few times to the right. This lowering of the plunger will bring the pin 42 into abutment with the upper surface of the stem I4 while the rotation of the sucker rod string will rotate the puller 5 in such manner as to bring the pin into alignment with the recess I9. At this time the effect of the spring 32 will immediately force the pin 42 downwardly into the recess, interengaging the slip carrier and the standing valve. Now while holding a slight right-hand torsional strain in the sucker rod string, the string may be lifted to elevate the plunger and due to the right-hand torsion exerted thereby the pin 42 will tend to shiftinto the branch 49 of the Y-shaped slot 4I, thus permitting the` slip carrier 29 to descend to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the slip carrier 29 descends to the position shown in Fig. 4, the lower ends of the dogs or slips 34 will engage the inwardly sloping shoulder 55 on the body 22 and the slips will be pivoted about their axes 39 to project the engaging ngers and shoulders thereon below the head I8, such pivotal action being permitted at this time because the upper or sloping ends of the slips 34 are now opposite the enlargement or recess 5I in the body. Now continuing the elevation of the sucker rod string will draw the gripping shoulders 38 of the slips upwardly into engagement with the shoulder 29 on the stem head I8 and the standing valve will be pulled out of its seat and drawn upwardly with the plunger 3.

It will be noted at this point that once the slips have been set into valve-engaging position, the effect of the spring 32 will be to hold the slips down against the shoulders 55 in tightly gripping relation with the standing valve while any resistance which may be exerted to the lifting out of the standing valve will, by reason of the tapered shoulder 55, tend to draw the dogs into tighter gripping relation with the standing valve.

To release the standing valve from the puller, all that is necessary is to move the standing valve and puller toward each other. For example, when the standing valve has been elevated to the ground surface, it may be released by merely pressing the standing valve inwardly of the Ypuller which will cause the stem of the valve to press upwardly upon the pin 42 to retract the slip carrier into the body 22 to. elevate the dogs 34 from the shoulder 55. As the dogs. move upwardly, their tapered upperfends will engage the shoulder 59 at the upper end of the recess 5I and the dogs will be positively reversely rotated upon their pivots 39 to their retracted positions, as shown in Fig. 2. Such upward movement of the pin 42'will, by reason of its engagement with the curved branch 49 of the slot 4I, rotate the slip carrier relative to the body 22 to re-align the pin 4I with the vertical branch 48 of the Y slot so that, upon release of the force which has been pressing the slip carrier upwardly, .the slip carrier will move down to its limited' or normal position, locking the slips in their retracted position and permitting the removal of the standing valve from the puller. f

As will be understood from the foregoing description, the insertion of the standing valve by means of' the plunger may be readily accom-V .as to engage the abutmentsl and I'I` on the valve and puller, which operation is accompanied by a retraction of the pin 42 along the .curved branch of the Y slot andinto alignment with the vertical branch thereof so'that a mere upward lift on the sucker rod string will re-engage the pin 4I with the vertical branch 48 of the Y slot, at which time the dogs will have released the valve stem I4 and the plunger may then be put into its normal pumping operations.

From the foregoingdescription it ,will be apparent that any slippage of the connections for the polished rod which would permit the plunger on its down stroke to descend so far in its barrel as l to bring the puller into abutment with the standing valve will merely result in the hammering of the relatively thick lower end of the puller body 22 upon the relatively heavy portion or enlargement I5 on the standing valve but such operation will not result in the release of the dogs 34 nor in the coupling together of the puller and the standing valve. Moreover, upon such operation the upper end of the standing valve stem will not break, shear or otherwise damage the pin 42 even though the pin is repeatedly struck by the stem. The pin will merely be lifted in the vertical portion of the Y slot against the force of the spring 32 so that even though the inadvertent pounding or hammering of the plunger upon the standing valve is not detected for an appreciably long period of time, no serious damage or injury can occur.

Further, by forming the pin of squared cross section and by forming the recess I9 of squared cross section and Preferably with a depth approximately equal to one-half of the thickness of the pin, it follows that wear upon the pin which may be occasioned by such inadvertent or accidental hammering will not result in severance of the pin. That is, if the pin upon striking the upper end of the stem is not disposed in alignment with the slot, substantially the entire flat upper surface of the stem will engage the pin so that any wear will be uniformly distributed over a relatively large wearing surface on the pinewliilegif thepin-z should engage almosigbnt not; quite; .inaligmnentwithztheslotlor recess@ l 9i any wennv Wliicl'n. can. occur? on` the sides of: the' pim frormst-rilfing the. corners: ofi the slot-cannot penetrateZ-more: thimihaltWay through .therthiclr--- nesse op!tlrefpin;structure.'` It hasbeenfoundiirr actuai experience: that: such'` inadvertent ham: mering. ot the;l pim over' a'ppreciably,1 long'. periods ofltimezhavefresulteztin considerablewear onf-.the pin but ininpeoase liasithefpinibeenlworn; com;- pletelis throu'g'hfr thusrassuringnthatwhen therim'f proper: operations has beeni detected the. structure; is sti'llf suflicienthrv operative'.- to 1 permit the pnller to successfully grasp aridi lifeftleastan'ding valvforirepairs:onreplaoements... Moreovereven thouglrthea pin should; completelyfwearrtlirough; the total result would only be thezrelease oi? the slipcaurier: 294l and; the positive; gripping: of: the standing valve. by the puller-soa thatvthef damag'ech puller: and the standingfrvalv Willlbeereadiily recovere byf the: mere.' lifting. ofn the plungerI tu: the: ground: surface;`

While forrsimplicityflhave: illustrated; and described; the; member carrying: the*Y engaging dogs as being: secured; t thev end; ofi the: plunger" andi have providedithe' stem upon the standing'valve; itwillibe apparent;toi.:those iskilled inthis art that the positionst thereof may' be reversed;` the. stem being; secured t the; end; of the' plunger.- andi the dog orv slip: carry-lng,t member? may. be` secured to. the standingtvalve.

Lclaimt:

1'.. In aidevi'ceifon pulling aistandingfvalve hav-- ing? axstemrprojeotingupwardly: therefrom; a'pull eri including-i a; body 'member having: a longitudinal borethereinto telescopicallyureceive the-up-v per. end of thestem, avsliprcarrierrslidably mountedlin' said .bores for long-tudinalmovement therein; ai plurality of slipson said carrier, meansV on said body engageabl Witli said slips- When said; carrienis in` al'ovverl position inf said? bore fon projectingzsaid slips: intoz-said: bore; into ne gaging;1 relation: with saidil stemi, means. oni said bod'y; member engageable bygsaid. slips when said carrier. ist in an:v elevated;y position forpositively retracting; said'. slips; outa of stemt engaging: Dosiftion; .and-spring meansf normally urging.; said-4v carrien` towardi its; lowermost position;

2:,Inf ai device for pulling a. standing valve having a.- stemt; projecting? upwardly' therefrom, alpullerfincluding: asbody.. member having a; l'ongitudinak bore therein; to telescopicallyf receive thef upper4 enst` ot the stem; a: slipy carrier: slidablyfmounteduinf; saidbore; for. longitudinal, movement: therein; aipluralit'yk of slips on said car"- rier;..means on said; body. engageablef with: said slipswhen said carrier: is in. a; loweri positionin saicthorefor; projecting. said; slips into; said bore into engaging reiation--.withzsaidstem, meanslon said!` body. member: engageable. by; said slips. when said carrier is in an elevatedy positiorLfor-f positively; retracting' said slipsl` out. of.; stem'. engaging position; .springmeansi normally'urging; said car:- rier.r toward; itsa lowermost; position, and; means for: normallyholding saidcarrier 'in'. itsz elevated position: releasable. by" relative: rotation between said; loodyz.` member and saidi carrier.,

3:' Ina device; for pullingta'; standing valvehaving a. stem.. projecting, I lpvvardlyk therefrom", a puller having: alongitudinalbore; therein .tot tele scopically; receive theupper; end of, the. stem; a plurality ofi slips movable; 'between an: extended position i projecting.; radiallyfinwardly, of said '.bore to: stemt engaging; position and: a. retracted: non'- engagingposition; meansi mounting saidl slips for movement@ between said; positions` including. a slip: carriersl'evei havingy slip receiving recesses formed therein'.l and; having an. annular groove extending thereabout, and' pivotfA pins` extending fromr opposite sides'. of? each ofA said slips removably engaged in`- said groove;

GLYN-N Hi WILLIAMS. 

